A happy magazine which contains tons of original games, stories to colour in and to read and plenty of fun facts to keep our friends’ little brains ticking!
PLOC Magazine is about learning and having fun at the same time. It contains stories (How is bread made? What animals live at the farm? Learning to count with happy birds on a wire), colouring pages, spot the difference games, mazes and activities. All the artwork consists of original drawings by 60s French illustrator Alain Grée, whose work is timeless and delightfully happy.

PLOC Magazine is the perfect reading companion for little ones and their parents, who are looking for a high quality, safe, advertising-free & educational magazine to feed their natural curiosity.

52pages. 210 x 170mm. Soft cover. Printed on recycled offset paper.

]]>http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/product/ploc-magazine/feed/0Food Is Funhttp://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/product/food-is-fun
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/product/food-is-fun#respondMon, 31 Dec 2018 17:13:08 +0000http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/?p=82Food is a fascinating world. Have you ever stopped and looked properly at the deep purple coat of an aubergine? A work of art! Have you ever wondered why such a sweet tasting fruit like a kiwi needs to be that hairy? Or take a celeriac for example.

OK granted, it might not be the best looking vegetable but we love the fact that it is that odd-looking. It looks a bit like a Dr Who character.

Don’t even get us started on the taste of these, it’s mind-boggling how one single vegetable can taste that different depending on how you cook it. Simply fascinating.

]]>http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/product/food-is-fun/feed/0Draw Us a Happy Coverhttp://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/blog/post/draw_us_a_happy_cover_please
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/blog/post/draw_us_a_happy_cover_please#respondMon, 31 Dec 2018 17:10:25 +0000http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/?p=79Let’s be honest, we couldn’t have survived without YOU, our wonderful army of happy fans and ‘little editors’ around the globe who draw happy things, write happy stories and review books for us. So, to celebrate this momentous occasion, we have decided that our issue will be made entirely by YOU!! A happy issue made by our happy friends, HOOORAY!

If you are already a little editor, you should have received an email from us with a specific mission. If you are not a little editor yet, don’t despair as we have a competition open to EVERYONE. This competition is: DRAW US A HAPPY COVER. Please.

Open to all kids around the world, we are giving you the opportunity to come up with a happy design for the cover of the 5th anniversary issue of Anorak magazine.

What do you win? The first prize will see their cover as our Anorak cover!! Imagine that, YOUR drawing could potentially be THE cover.
We will also pick runners-up prizes to win Anorak subscriptions.

Are you eligible?
To be eligible for this competition, you must be aged 13 and under. You can enroll your class/school to take part too.

How to submit your drawings?
• One entry per person. If you enter more than once, your entry will be automatically disqualified. Sorry peeps! More than one person can enter in your household/school/class.
• This competition is open to ALL kids around the world, so whether you live in Moscow or Morocco, Belize or Birmingham, Falmouth or France you can take part!
• Closing date for entries: 30th July 2011.
• To enter, you need to email your entries to admin (AT) anorak-magazine (DOT) co (DOT) uk with subject line NORAK COVER MISSION.
• You are NOT required to send hi-res material for your entries.

We really look forward to receiving your happy drawings.

Oh, some final bits you better read before you start drawing.
• The winners will be notified in writing within four weeks of the closing of the competition.
• All entrants hereby license to Anorak Magazine the use of their entry for display on the Anorak website and for possible display in a physical exhibition. Appropriate credits will be given to each item displayed, but Anorak shall not be under any obligation to hold such exhibitions, or to include every entry if it does. Each entrant warrants to Anorak that his entry is original, and made without the inclusion of material owned by any third party.
• The decision of the judges is final and correspondence will be entered into only at the absolute discretion of Anorak.
• The winners agree to take part in reasonable post-event publicity and to the use of his/her name in such publicity.
• Any offensive material will be automatically disqualified.

]]>http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/blog/post/draw_us_a_happy_cover_please/feed/0The Best Scanners for Artwork and Artists in 2019http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-scanner-for-artwork/
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-scanner-for-artwork/#respondTue, 25 Sep 2018 15:29:50 +0000http://anorak-magazine.co.uk/?p=65As an artist or graphic designer working in the fashion industry, owning your own arsenal of gadgets or devices can come in handy when you need to get your work done and delivered in good time. One device that is crucial for most artist is a scanner. Regardless of what you intend to scan – sketches, watercolors, or small-scale paintings – having the best scanner for your artwork will enable you to back up your drawings digitally.

However, as an artist, choosing a scanner can be a task on its own considering that that isn’t your forte. For you, it’s about the shades, color, contrast, and matching. But not to worry. In this article, we’ve reviewed some of the best scanners that you can purchase for your artwork and detail their pros and cons. With this guide, we hope that you’ll be able to find a scanner that best suits your needs.

1. Canon CanoScan 9000F Scanner

Introduction

If you’re an avid lover of the Canon brand, then you must be familiar with their Mark line series. The CanoScan 9000F flatbed scanner is a great scanner that delivers amazing results.

Pros

This Canon scanner has one of the highest resolutions in our review. The scanner gives an amazing resolution of 9600 by 9600 dpi for film. It has a perfect color depth of 48-bit coupled with the FARE 3 level technology that is designed to ensure that any artwork that you scan is free from scratches, dust or any defects.

The Image Garden Software allows you to easily scan and organize your documents for ease of access. Unlike other scanners, this specific scanner takes zero time to warm up and doesn’t consume a lot of power as it is designed with a lower power consumption. That means you don’t have to worry about your energy bills skyrocketing in case you have a home office.

The scanner allows one to scan your work in a record speed of seven seconds and you can choose whether to post them on social media, your website or save them to your digital portfolio. It has an Auto Scan mode that easily detects the type of document you are scanning and adjusts the settings as needed.

Cons

It has a large footprint, and the lid of this Canon scanner opens only up to 90 degrees.

2. The Epson V39 Scanner

Introduction

This is among the best scanners that you can buy if you own a small studio or you are a student artist. The scanner is designed with a removable lid which makes it ideal for most large-scale painting.

Pros

The Epson V39 scanner may not have the same dpi resolution as the CanoScan 9000F, but we can all agree that with a resolution dpi of 4800 by 4800, this scanner does offer great clarity and detail when you need to scan your documents and photos resulting in high-quality scans. The scanner’s operating temperature is between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 95 degrees Fahrenheit which allows you to preserve your most memorable moments/memories by restoring, sharing and archiving photos for generations.

With this scanner, you can easily scan your photos directly to social media platforms such as Facebook or scan them directly to cloud services such as Google Drive. For your color 300 dpi scanning, it will only take you 10 seconds to scan your artwork. Besides, it has easy-to-use buttons for all your simple scan jobs which makes this scanner very convenient. You can also place or keep the scanner in a vertical position thanks to the inbuilt space-saving kickstand.

It’s compatible with most Mac and Windows operating system which means you don’t have to worry about buying a new laptop in order to use this scanner.

Cons

3. Canon CanoScan LiDE220 Scanner

Introduction

What’s not to love about a Canon scanner? This particular scanner, is not only efficient but is also lightweight making it convenient for artists who travel a lot and still need to bring with them their scanner for work and personal purposes.

Pros

As one of the slimmest and smallest scanners in our review, this CanoScan LiDE220 scanner is perfect for on the go scanning or for artists who have limited space in their studio or dorms. The scanner can be powered through a USB cable which makes it not only extremely portable, but it also means you won’t have to worry about an extra socket for plugging in the charger.

It also has the Auto Scan mode that easily detects and adjusts the settings depending on what you are scanning. Just like the CanoScan 9000F, you can also save your documents directly to cloud services such as Dropbox and Evernote. The scanner has the Auto Document Fix feature that autocorrects every corner of your document to ensure you end up with good quality scans.
With a 4800 by 4800 dpi, the resolution ensures that you still end up with quality scans coupled with the accurate color representation that guarantees that the vibrant watercolors come out looking great digitally.

Cons

Some users have reported that the scanner only scans at a dpi of 600 unlike the 4800 dpi the company talks of.

4. Epson Perfection V600

Introduction

If you’re looking for a great scanner for scanning your sketchbooks and one that has a high resolution, incredible scanning speeds, and an amazing color depth, then the Epson Perfection V600 is your best buy.

Pros

This scanner allows you to create great enlargements from film thanks to the 6400 by 9600 dpi and ability to enlarge your photos or images up to 17 by 22 inches. It has an inbuilt transparency unit, and with this scanner, you can scan negatives, slides as well as medium-format panoramic film.

The Digital Ice for prints feature removes the appearance of any creases or tears for damaged images or photos. On the other hand, the Digital Ice feature for film removes any appearance of scratches or dust from the film. The scanner is also compatible with most Windows and Mac operating systems. The scanner also offers great scanning speeds for all your scan work.

Cons

It’s a bit pricey, and some users have reported that setting this scanner up can be a bit cumbersome.

Final thoughts

There is a big difference between scanning an artwork and scanning a photograph. This simply means that it’s important to choose the right scanner for your artwork scanning lest you end up with regrets. That said, when choosing a scanner for your artwork, choose one that offers a great resolution and is easy to handle. In addition, the various methods you can save your work is also crucial.

A good scanner should allow you to directly save your documents to cloud services such as Dropbox or Google Drive with ease. With the above review, we hope you can now narrow down your options and pick what suits you.

]]>http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-scanner-for-artwork/feed/0Best Printer for Artists and Art Printshttp://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-printer-for-artists/
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-printer-for-artists/#respondFri, 14 Sep 2018 01:58:54 +0000http://anorak-magazine.co.uk/?p=48Back in the day, consumers only had several options when it came to the purchase of products. Competition wasn’t as stiff as it is currently which simply means that a consumer today has more choices when it comes to buying any product available in the market. Such is the dilemma that creative graphic designers find themselves in.

There are plenty of brands that manufacture printers’ day in day out with new models flooding the market every other day. As such, it can be hard knowing which printer is best for your print work. While printing your photos can be an easy task, knowing which printer to purchase that will give you the best art prints isn’t as easy. That’s why we have reviewed some of the best printers for art prints for you.

1. The Epson Expression Premium ET-7750 EcoTank Printer

Introduction

Epson is a trusted and well-known brand when it comes to printers, and there is a reason. Its printer models are always designed to satisfy the needs of the end user.

Pros

When you want to print your art prints, the key consideration is ink as you don’t want to waste too much of it. This Epson printer will ensure that you don’t as it uses a five-color special ink that is very much similar in quality with those used by reputable graphic design shops.

And because the ink is a constant worry for graphic designers, the printer comes with enough ink that can last you up to 24 months. To give you clarity, the ink that the printer comes with can print 14,000 documents in black and 9,000 documents in color. You can also save about 80 percent of your money when replenishing the ink using the low-cost replacement bottles that offer a supersized tank that reduces the amount of ink you need and are easy to fill.

It accommodates printing pages that have a width of up to 17 inches with an impressive dpi resolution of 5760 by 1440. The printer has a dedicated tray for both paper and photo printing with an additional specialty paper support of up to 23 millimeters on the thickness that’s loaded through the rear feeder.

Cons

This printer is a bit large because it supports wide sheets which is also a limit to the tray size and is quite expensive compared to other printers that are relatively similar to it.

2. Canon PIXMA Pro-100 Inkjet Printer

Introduction

This is by far one of the printers that has been widely purchased by most users all thanks to its features and the fact that printing is quite fast using this printer.

Pros

The Canon PIXMA models have been relied on by artists and designers for a long time for printing professional-grade prints. The Canon PIXMA Pro-100 is no exceptions. The FINE technology used on this printer ensures you get incredible detail on your art prints with a dpi resolution of 4800 by 2400 and a paper prints size that measures 13 inches by 19 inches.

You can easily print your photos in under one minute when printed in monochrome and in less than 90 seconds when printed in color. With the Optimum Image Generating System (OIGS) technology, this printer is able to logically choose the best ink combinations for you automatically for quality prints.

It has generous paper trays which make it ideal for your home studio or even for use in a professional print shop. The printer has two trays; one for general printing paper and a second tray that accommodates thick photo paper that doesn’t fit on a regular tray. It also supports luster and glossy paper. The printer also supports wireless network printing and designers can utilize the borderless printing mode.

Cons

It uses specific Canon-branded cartridges which are a bit expensive considering that the printer also has a hefty price tag. Users also have to create different print profiles for creating typographical art, and it doesn’t support the Linux-based art software.

3. Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Printer

Introduction

Now, if you are searching for one of the best wide-format printers, the Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Printer is one of the best picks that you can purchase in the market for your art prints.

Pros

When you are looking for an affordable printer that can still give you quality prints and doesn’t have an extravagant price tag attached to it, then the Expression XP-15000 printer is your best buy. A product of Epson, this printer is much faster when it comes to printing than most art printers on the market and can print several pages a minute.

While it has a fair price tag, it doesn’t mean that Epson has compromised on any feature sets as this printer is still able to give you professional HD-quality prints on any A-sized photo and also supports smaller traditional photo sizes. Its tray can hold up to 200 sheets of paper and has an auto 2-sided document printing.

It has the Amazon Dash Replenish feature which means you will never run out of ink a sit tracks your usage and automatically orders additional ones from Amazon.

Cons

The printer has to be configured through a front panel touchscreen menu, and specialty media paper has to be loaded through a tray in the back.

4. Epson SureColor P800 Inkjet Printer

Introduction

Another great printer from Epson, this printer delivers excellent quality prints with only a maximum dpi resolution of 2880 by 1440.

Pros

Supports UltraChrome HD inks that easily produce prints that can last for centuries to come and also offers a three-level black ink mode for your monochrome art printing. The resolution on your art prints is quite incredible and sharp considering the resolution offered regardless of the paper size you opt to use. The trays can easily hold several sheets of thicker poster board papers or fine art papers.

It supports different types of old computers that some designers still use in print shops and is quite reliable compared to its predecessor.

Cons

Some heavier weight papers can cause it to jam even though it’s designed to support large fine art paper and the software in this printer happens to only be compatible with some OS installs.

Conclusion

Choosing the best printer for your art prints can be a hard task, but with a review like ours that tells you why exactly you should purchase one, there is no need to sweat anymore. When buying your printer, factor in the amount of space you have available, your printing needs as well as the budget you have. We are confident that our above top picks will help you arrive at a decision faster and hence make your purchase journey easier.

]]>http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-printer-for-artists/feed/0Best Drawing Tablets for Artists and Designers in 2018http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-drawing-tablets/
http://www.anorak-magazine.co.uk/best-drawing-tablets/#respondThu, 13 Sep 2018 20:57:23 +0000http://anorak-magazine.co.uk/?p=41Some years back, artists had to spend a lot of money whenever they had to create digital paintings and drawings. However, modern technology and continuous innovation has made it possible for both artists and graphic designers to draw their paintings and designs directly on some of the best tablets for drawing. Tablets are loved by both beginners and professionals alike as their functionality goes beyond drawing and they offer excellent value for money.

However, not every type of tablet is a drawing tablet. There are tablets that have been designed with the capability for drawing. In addition, you will also need a unique pen to be able to digitally draw on your tablet. The best tablets for artists and drawing requires to have a high resolution coupled with a splendid color -correct touchscreen displays. You will also need a stylus that is pressure-sensitive and is capable of giving you the unmatched precision to make your drawings meet the standards required. That said, below are the best tablets that as an artist or graphic designer you can purchase.

1. Wacom MobileStudio Pro Tablet

Introduction

Wacom is considered one of the best brands when it comes to manufacturing the best tablets for use by both artists and graphic designers and hence the reason a Wacom tablet couldn’t miss in our review.

Pros

This Wacom tablet is designed for professionals who make good money and need to add one of the best tools to their drawing arsenal. This tablet is not your ordinary tablet as it is a powerful Windows computer that comes with the Intel Core i7 processor, a storage space of 512 GB SSD, NVIDIA Quadro M1000M 4GB GDDR5 GPU and has the capability of running the complete version of Windows 10.
This is one of Wacom’s most advanced tablet, and its accuracy and pressure sensitivity is four times greater when compared to the regular drawing tablets. The 16-inch screen has a 4K resolution and a 94 percent Adobe RGB color coverage that performs way better than any ordinary Android tablet.

With the scanning software and the inbuilt Intel Real Sense camera, 3D designers are able to capture 3D scans easily. Digital artists and graphic designers can make use of the new Wacom Pro Pen 2 that has 4× pressure sensitivity and higher pen accuracy compared to its predecessor which comes in handy when you need to sketch, draw or edit in the most intuitive and natural way.

Cons

Despite the great features, this tablet from Wacom is just too expensive for most artists.

2. Lenovo Yoga Book

Introduction

Lenovo has been a game changer when it comes to producing great laptops and tablets. The Lenovo Yoga Book is a thing and lightweight tablet that’s convenient for an artist who is always on the move.

Pros

Artists draw their inspiration from wherever and you just don’t know when you will get inspired to sketch or draw something. That’s the main reason why artists need a drawing tablet that is light, and they can move around with it anywhere they go. The Lenovo Yoga Book is the lightest 2-in-1 tablet in the world. Besides, the low weight doesn’t mean the company has compromised on any features.

With a 64GB SSD hard drive, this tablet opens like any traditional book revealing the Halo keyboard, Lenovo’s innovative keyboard that has real haptic feedback on one side and a high-resolution display. The keyboard only shows when you need it to and when you don’t, it becomes a smooth surface for placing your notes or the Rear Pen that boast of 2048 levels of pressure.

The Rear Pen allows you to easily take notes and jot down any ideas that may spring up on you with real ink and seamlessly digitizes everything and shows it on the tablet’s display. With a single charge, the tablet can last up to 12 hours making it a perfect on the go tablet and has high-fidelity speakers that make it a great tablet for any multimedia consumption besides just the drawing use.

Cons

Users have reported that the Windows updates and boot up can be slow and tedious.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note Pro Tablet

Introduction

Samsung as a brand is well known and has been designing and pushing out smartphones and tablets for artistic creation for a couple of years now.

Pros

Most artists and business professionals alike have fallen in love with the Samsung’s devices in the Note line thanks to the inclusion of the S Pen. The S pen allows you to not only jot down notes as an artist but to make sketches, draw and edit on the 12,2-inch screen display. Besides the 64GB memory, this tablet also has a slot where you can add a memory card for more storage space.

Just like with most of Samsung’s high-end devices, you will get top-of-the-range features. This tablet features Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa processor, has an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera making it ideal for taking photos as well. The battery can last up to 13 hours with one single charge, has 50GB of Dropbox space and includes some other great features as well.

Cons

Running a few demanding apps in multi-window mode limits the tablet’s performance.

4. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Tablet

Introduction

There is no denying Microsoft is a force to reckon with when it comes to the world of PCs, and it has continued to outdo itself with the Surface Pro range of laptops and tablets.

Pros

This is a powerful tablet that has been designed to replace your laptop. It has a 2.3-inch PixelSense screen that offers high contrast and low glare allowing you to work comfortably without any strain to your eye even in broad daylight. You can use the tablet in different positions thanks to the back hinge.

The tablet is available in several configurations from the low-end model that has the Intel Core M processor to the most expensive model that features the Intel Core i7 and 16GB of memory. Our recommendation for any artist is the Intel Core i5 processor, and 8GB of RAM has it has amazing features and is suitable even for the most demanding applications you will need for your drawing.

It comes with a Surface Pen that stands out thanks to the fact that it has been designed by artists for artists. You can customize the pen, and it has an eraser when you need to rectify your mistakes.

Cons

Final Thoughts

Not all tablets are suitable for drawing. In addition, the needs of artists vary from one to the other. A beginner’s choice of a drawing tablet may not be the same as that of an experienced artist. That said, it’s important to choose a tablet that suits your needs and is within your price range. With the above list, we sure hope you can get yourself an amazing tablet and get drawing.